Shameless self-promotion!

[Eric Wittenberg]

Is the Gettysburg's Forgotten Cavalry Actions book about Farnsworth's Charge?

Farnsworth's Charge, Merritt's fight on South Cavalry Field, and the Battle of Fairfield. About half of it is devoted to Farnsworth.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

Farnsworth's Charge, Merritt's fight on South Cavalry Field, and the Battle of Fairfield. About half of it is devoted to Farnsworth.

Might have to buy myself a copy

 

[War Horse]

Farnsworth's Charge, Merritt's fight on South Cavalry Field, and the Battle of Fairfield. About half of it is devoted to Farnsworth.

I love the name of your new book. A quote taken directly from the movie. Is that an actual quote of Bufords when Renyolds rides up?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

I love the name of your new book. A quote taken directly from the movie. Is that an actual quote of Bufords when Renyolds rides up?

It is. It's documented that when Reynolds rode up to the Lutheran Seminary, Buford was in the cupola. Reynolds called up to him, "What goes, John?"

Buford responded by pointing to the long lines of advancing Confederates and said, "The devil's to pay!"

Reynolds then asked, "Can you hold?", to which Buford responded, "I reckon I can." He then came down from the cupola to discuss things with his old friend Reynolds, and Reynolds then gave orders for his infantry to be brought up at the double quick. The source for that exchange is Lt. Aaron B. Jerome, who was Buford's signal officer, and who was in the cupola with the old horse soldier.

 

[War Horse]

It is. It's documented that when Reynolds rode up to the Lutheran Seminary, Buford was in the cupola. Reynolds called up to him, "What goes, John?"

Buford responded by pointing to the long lines of advancing Confederates and said, "The devil's to pay!"

Reynolds then asked, "Can you hold?", to which Buford responded, "I reckon I can." He then came down from the cupola to discuss things with his old friend Reynolds, and Reynolds then gave orders for his infantry to be brought up at the double quick. The source for that exchange is Lt. Aaron B. Jerome, who was Buford's signal officer, and who was in the cupola with the old horse soldier.

Sounds like the Book and Movie got it right!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Sounds like the Book and Movie got it right!

In that instance, yes. But that whole scene about Buford holding at Thoroughfare Gap? Never happened. Buford's brigade wasn't ever there. There's a LOT about The Killer Angels that is just plain wrong. That's one example of many.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Ok reading that just gave me chills. Not the wrong stuff in Killer Angels, " The devil's to pay ", at the cupola.

Have to go check but ' think' my pre-order was for the ebook? Generally will always go back, purchase a copy one can thumb through ( and hope to have signed one day ) but in the interests of having one arrive quickly plus ' read' in the car- ebook's the way to go. Pretty psyched- copy of ' 6th US Cavalry " ( Don Caughey ) probably needs a short rest, time to obsessively adopt another favorite.

 

[kevikens]

In your research were you able to determine which breech loaders Buford's men were using? I know some had Sharps but I also read, somewhere, that some of the units had Smith carbines. Any others?

 

[Jamieva]

Eric looking forward to the new book and will order the e book.

Side note if you have answered this before I apologize but what sparked your interest more in the cavalry side of the war?

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

In your research were you able to determine which breech loaders Buford's men were using? I know some had Sharps but I also read, somewhere, that some of the units had Smith carbines. Any others?

There's an appendix that addresses this. According to the June 30, 1863 ordnance returns, 62% of Buford's companies reported. The majority of them had Sharps. The rest had a mix of Ballard, Starr, Merrill, Burnside and Smith carbines. Notably missing: Spencers. Not one was reported.

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Eric looking forward to the new book and will order the e book.

Side note if you have answered this before I apologize but what sparked your interest more in the cavalry side of the war?

David Gregg settled in my home town of Reading, PA after the war--our family doctor's office was right across the street from the handsome equestrian monument to Gregg that was erected after his death. The monument intrigued me, and that's really what sent me off in the direction of cavalry. But my interest in John Buford and his stand at Gettysburg dates back to my very first visit to the battlefield as a third grader in 1969.

 

[kevikens]

Not surprised that none yet had Spencers as they were just being issued. I think some of Custer's men had them in July of 1863. As for Buford, it must have been a nightmare for supply with so many different carbines. Did your research have any comments by the troopers on which they preferred or how they performed?

 

[War Horse]

David Gregg settled in my home town of Reading, PA after the war--our family doctor's office was right across the street from the handsome equestrian monument to Gregg that was erected after his death. The monument intrigued me, and that's really what sent me off in the direction of cavalry. But my interest in John Buford and his stand at Gettysburg dates back to my very first visit to the battlefield as a third grader in 1969.

If you want to catch the Devil, if you want to have fun,
If you want to smell Hell, jine the cavalry!
Jine the cavalry! Jine the cavalry!

A song by J.E.B Stuart?

 

[Nathanb1]

[QUOTE..

The book will sell for $32.95 plus $3.95 for shipping. I will also be offering a special collector's edition that contains a special signed and numbered bookplate that will make for a perfect gift for $75.00. Shipping is free for the special edition. I am taking pre-orders for signed copies beginning tonight. Those interested can pay one of three ways: by PayPal, by credit card, or by check. If you wish to pay using PayPal, please use the email address eric_at_civilwarcavalry.com (I have stated the address that way so that bots don't pick it up as easily). If you wish to pay by credit card, please send me an email to that address, and include your name, address, credit card number, expiration date, CVV on the back (the three-digit or four-digit code), and the billing address. If you want to pay by check, please send me an email at that address, and I will provide you with a mailing address.[/QUOTE]

Is it too late to order the collector's edition? If not, I'll email you with the info to pay by card.

 

[TalkingJohnMc]

Thank you. It's a Dale Gallon, from 2013. It's part of his sesquicentennial series, and it's titled "Buford's Boys." I took one look at it, went straight to Dale (whom I've known for years, having worked with him before), told him I had a book coming out on Buford at Gettysburg, and asked if we could use it. He said, "Of course," and that was that. It's a win-win--it's free publicity for his artwork, and I get a great image to use. My book is the first one to use it.

I also thought I had seen the painting before. I have it in the Seminary Ridge Museum calendar that was sent to me. I believe it is for April 2014 in the calendar.

 

[diane]

If you want to catch the Devil, if you want to have fun,
If you want to smell Hell, jine the cavalry!
Jine the cavalry! Jine the cavalry!

A song by J.E.B Stuart?

Hope Mr Wittenberg doesn't mind a tiny diversion! It's a fine song - think it was Jeb along with his banjo man! Stuart dearly loved to sing - by all accounts he had an excellent voice, too. This is by the 2nd South Carolina String Band.

Back to the Buford book! That's going to be a fine book cover, especially since no one else has used it. Really looking forward to getting my order filled.

 

[War Horse]

Hope Mr Wittenberg doesn't mind a tiny diversion! It's a fine song - think it was Jeb along with his banjo man! Stuart dearly loved to sing - by all accounts he had an excellent voice, too. This is by the 2nd South Carolina String Band.

Back to the Buford book! That's going to be a fine book cover, especially since no one else has used it. Really looking forward to getting my order filled.

That was Excellent, Thank you very much!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

[QUOTE..

The book will sell for $32.95 plus $3.95 for shipping. I will also be offering a special collector's edition that contains a special signed and numbered bookplate that will make for a perfect gift for $75.00. Shipping is free for the special edition. I am taking pre-orders for signed copies beginning tonight. Those interested can pay one of three ways: by PayPal, by credit card, or by check. If you wish to pay using PayPal, please use the email address eric_at_civilwarcavalry.com (I have stated the address that way so that bots don't pick it up as easily). If you wish to pay by credit card, please send me an email to that address, and include your name, address, credit card number, expiration date, CVV on the back (the three-digit or four-digit code), and the billing address. If you want to pay by check, please send me an email at that address, and I will provide you with a mailing address.

Is it too late to order the collector's edition? If not, I'll email you with the info to pay by card.[/QUOTE]

Nope. I still have some left. PM me if you want one!

 

[Eric Wittenberg]

Not surprised that none yet had Spencers as they were just being issued. I think some of Custer's men had them in July of 1863. As for Buford, it must have been a nightmare for supply with so many different carbines. Did your research have any comments by the troopers on which they preferred or how they performed?

All of the 5th Michigan and two companies of the 6th were armed with Spencer rifles, not carbines. The carbine did not go into mass production until September 1863, and, other than a few prototypes, did not exist at the time of the battle.

The ordnance returns do not say. They simply report raw numbers.

 

[ole]

Hmmmmm. Special edition or Silver Patron. I'm off to check my balance.